Taiwanese Mini Hot Pot! January 11, 2010

Especially those ones where everyone shares a massive pot, dipping their used utensils in the broth, creating a tepid pool of salivated filth.

If you are like me, then you’ll like the ‘mini’ hot pot or shabu shabu, which is super popular in Taiwan, especially during the winter.

(Check out the salivating photos and my verdict by clicking on ‘More…’)

These are the veges and 'goodies' you get with each mini pot

Essentially, you get your own little pot to boil stuff. You get your own plate of vegetables and other hot pot ‘goodies’ (to be honest I have no idea what most of the stuff is). You order your own plate of meat (whether it is beef, pork, chicken, others, or a mixture). You get your own noodles or rice. You make your own dipping sauce. You cook your own stuff, at your own pace. No sharing. Love it.

The one I went to in Taipei is called Cash City. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because they only accept cash.

The ‘economic’ pot we got only costs TWD 150 (essentially the same as the ‘regular’ but less meat)! Not only do you get your own pot, veges, goodies, meat and noodles/rice, there’s unlimited refills of beverages (an assortment of beverages and icy drinks), Chinese dessert soups AND ice cream!

Yes, there is unlimited ice cream too!

Be warned though – it can get a bit crowded during dinner time on cold winter nights, though the turnover is pretty quick.

Sign me up on a cold night, and perhaps even a warm one.

7.5 out of 10 (should have been higher but only because I don’t really like hot pot)

Where to find

There are plenty of shabu shabu places around in Taipei, and Cash City is one of the better known franchises. The one I went to was at Section 3, Roosevelt Road. It’s between the Kuting and Taipower Building MRT stations (about a 5 min walk either way). Big orange sign, can’t miss it!